By Patrick Tepoorten

Long time employee of Chisago County Health and Human Services Brad Foss resigned from the department on April 20.

Foss had recently completed his Masters Degree as part of the Masters of Social Work (MSW) program, which calls for a contractual ìpaybackî by employees, usually two to four years of service in child protection.

Foss was less than a year into his four-year service payback, raising questions about his sudden resignation.

Because Foss resigned though, no details concerning the circumstances are available to the general public due to the Data Privacy Act.

When queried, County Administrator John Moosey as well as Human Resources Director Renee Kirchner would only confirm that Foss did indeed resign.

Unofficial report

Last week it had been reported by another county publication that Foss was escorted from the building, but Lt. Steve Pouti of the Chisago County Sheriffís Department shows no report of such an incident nor did he recall it. As well, Foss denied the allegation.

ìI did not get escorted from the building. I left of my own volition,î he said on Monday, April 24.

For his part, Moosey found the allegation curious. ìBrad resigned. We accepted his resignation. Why would he need to be escorted from the building?î he said on Tuesday. Moosey then confirmed that, to his knowledge, there was ìno sceneî on that day.

Fossís departure puts the county in an awkward position. Foss had taken part in the MSW program, an educational grant program designed for child protection workers that is funded by both the state and the federal government.

All in all, his education and subsequent Masters Degree cost taxpayers in excess of $100,000.

Foss had previously come under fire for what was ultimately determined to be faulty expense reporting in regards to the program and was forced to reimburse approximately $200 to the county.

As part of his contract with the county, Foss agreed to stay in the field of child protection for up to four years after he had earned his Masters degree.

The contract does not state however, that it must be a position directly in the employ of the county.

Instead, the contract dictates that Foss must work within the county, be it for a public or a private entity, and that he must be employed in the child protection field, also known as a ì4E position.î

But with Foss no longer employed by the county, it remains to be seen who, if anyone, will be responsible for ensuring Foss upholds his end of the agreement.

No answer yet

At press time, the source or sources of the language in the contract that allows Foss to work outside of county control is unknown.

In an April 22 interview though, Foss indicated that he himself was involved in writing what essentially is an exception allowing him to leave county employment, explaining the clause thusly,

ìOur whole intent was to create a workforce within Chisago County.î

Moosey confirmed that the clause would have been written at the county level, and that allowing graduates to work outside of county employ but in-county is not part of any state or federal provision.

Moosey went on to state though that the provision doesnít exactly jump off the page. He indicated that the spirit of the agreement is that the employee will stay in county employ.

ìWhen you read the agreement, that is what you assume,î he noted. ìBut when you read it more closely, like a lawyer would...whoa.î

New Mayor

Foss was recently sworn in as mayor of St. Croix Falls Wisc., and when asked, gave that mayorship primary credit for his resignation.

ìI want to pay attention to this mayor thing,î he said, although he did note that he was likely to return to a social services position sometime in the future.

On May 1, Moosey attributed the clause that allows Foss to work outside of county employment to a now defunct policy.

ìOne thing that has happened since I have been here is that the county attorney now has to sign off on all agreements before they go to the board. At that time (when Fossís MSW contract was written in 2003) it was not required.î

Moosey also confirmed that the county will somehow have to be responsible for making sure Foss stays employed in a 4E position within the county. ìWeíll see to it,î he said, but was not sure yet how that will be achieved.

There will be accountability

ìWeíre looking at it and there will be accountability,î he added. Likely, the responsibility will fall to whomever is chosen to manage the MSW program going forward.

Further complicating matters will be the response of state and federal agencies responsible for overseeing the MSW program.

Since the county funds used to pay for the program come from the state and federal governments, it is possible that they could demand county reimbursement of funds dedicated to Foss were he to forego a 4E position.

According to Moosey, any reimbursement required from the county would be passed on to Foss.